High-tech Equipment To Help Take Load Off Overloaded Nurses

HEALTH CARE

Winter Park Memorial Hospital is investing in new equipment and enhancing its employee-recognition program to help mend relations with nurses.

A cellular-telephone system valued at $250,000 will put nurses in closer communication with doctors and reduce time spent running to the regular telephone.

About 100 hand-held computers, estimated at $60,000, also are expected to save time by eliminating the need to copy handwritten records. The computers will be used at patients' bedsides.

The improved technology is a partial response to a work overload endured by Winter Park Memorial's 316 nurses late last year and early this year, hospital officials said. The hospital is co-owned by for-profit Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. and a nonprofit foundation.

A record number of patients during the holidays coincided with difficulties hiring temporary nurses and persuading staff nurses to work extra shifts, said Dr. David Lebioda, president of Winter Park Memorial's medical staff.

By the time Doug DeGraaf, Winter Park Memorial's new chief executive officer, arrived Jan. 20, 11 nurses had quit. Nine of those nurses worked in the progressive-care unit, which had 50 nurses.

In the past two months, the hospital has hired 35 nurses, some of whom filled vacancies, and 55 support staff.

HMO trade group gets help

Reflecting the explosive growth of managed care, the Florida Association of HMOs is on a hiring spree for health-care experts.

Lawyer Heidi Garwood joins the trade group of 22 major insurers today as chief lobbyist. She formerly worked for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, as deputy general counsel.

During the next few months, the association plans to hire a part-time medical director to provide testimony on legislative bills addressing medical care.

Next year, the association plans to add a public policy director and analyst to offer more expertise on Medicare, Medicaid and federal issues.

Richard F. Dorff, the association's president, said increasing the staff is necessary as health-maintenance organizations become more prevalent.

An estimated 4.2 million Floridians are members of HMOs. That compares with 2.1 million in 1992, when Dorff opened the association's Tallahassee office with one administrative assistant. With Garwood on board, there are six employees.

Dorff, who was in Orlando last week, said the trade group is considering sponsoring health fairs. Orlando and Tampa are probable sites.

Personal touch

By launching a Medicare HMO last week, Orlando Regional Healthcare System is trying to offer something different.

Healthchoice Cares, which targets seniors in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties, offers clients personal-care coordinators so they can deal with the same person each time they call.

Many other Medicare programs, such as Florida Hospital's Premier Care provider-sponsored network, route members' calls to the first available representative.